COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which refers to a combination of two conditions – emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis both of which are caused by lung damage from smoking or exposure to other lung irritants such as asbestos.
If you are a chain smoker or a former smoker you develop COPD as a result of damage to the lungs that gradually limits their ability to take in oxygen. COPD is a progressive disease that can’t be slowed without treatment. It is a fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.
COPD inflames the bronchial tubes and the tiny sacs called alveoli that line the lungs making them less flexible and elastic. The walls of the airway is thicken and produce more mucus than usual which clogs them up. If you cough up mucus that’s of any color, can be a sign of worsening .The mucus may be yellow, green or even have blood in it.
The shortness of breath results from structural changes in the lungs. These occur in response to lung damage from smoking. The linings between air sacs are destroyed, creating air pockets in the lungs. Air is trapped in the air pockets and is difficult to breathe out. The lung is slowly enlarged and breathing takes more effort. The muscles are responsible for breathing which is hard to work and tire out soon.
As COPD advances it become interlinked with heart failure because the circulatory system isn’t getting the oxygen properly. This can leads to fluid buildup in the extremities which is recognized as swollen feet and ankles. As lungs get progressively worse, the ability of the body to compensate goes down and the heart can’t pump strongly enough.
To check out for COPD progression is to have breathe while raising your arms over your head. They are looking for a change known as “barrel chest “ which describe a particular posture and body shape that tends to develop as a secondary symptom of COPD. Due to chronic inflammation, the lungs become enlarged and push the diaphragm downward, which makes it harder for the diaphragm to contract as efficiently. The chest wall becomes enlarged. There is weakening of the muscles in the chest, neck and between the ribs.
One of the most common symptoms of COPD is waking up after a night sleep with a dull, throbbing headache. We are not breathing deeply enough at night and the carbon dioxide builds up while you are sleeping. This builds up of carbon dioxide which causes blood vessels in the brain to dilate which is resulting in headaches.
If the blood doesn’t circulate enough oxygen throughout the body, lips and fingernails can take on a blue or gray tone. It is most apparent in the nail bed. Some people develop an overall grayish –blue tinge to the skin. Oxygen – rich blood is bright red, while blood with less oxygen turns dark and bluish – colored.
Many people with COPD have trouble in sleeping. Sleep is also hard for people with COPD because they may have cough throughout the night, waking themselves or interrupting in deep sleep.
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** The text on this website is sourced from websites like emedicine and/or other verified material by government agencies around the globe along with valuable inputs and additions by our team. The content of this page is proofread and updated by the team of doctors, every once in a while, to provide the most accurate information.
